HELP! Is my metabolism messed up?

Have you tried logging what you currently eat? It might be an eye opener. I thought my habits weren't that bad either, then I logged and can see that my portion control was the issue.

Enter your information into MFP, be honest about your activity levels (don't just default to sedentary, unless you truly are), With 30 lbs to lose, 2lb/week is too quick and will leave you frustrated. Log everything you eat, do not restrict/demonize any food group, this could contribute to a pig out on said "forbidden food." You will have good days and bad ones, shake off the bad ones and keep moving forward. Add some friends (people on the forums with similar goals, or who have done well, whatever suits you) for support during those difficult times.

Slow and steady. You got this! :flowerforyou:

Thank you. Though I think 20lbs in 3 months is realistic considering the fact that I'm quite active.

One thing to consider is that the more rapid the weight loss, as a general rule, the higher proportion of muscle is likely lost since it takes fewer calories to burn through a lb of muscle (something like 600) versus a lb a fat (3500). So, if you have a 3500 calorie deficit and you lost only fat, you'd only see a 1 lb loss on the scale. Whereas if it were all muscle, you'd see something like 5.8 lbs loss -- same deficit, but you just lost a lot more muscle than fat. But keep in mind, no one loses all muscle and it's difficult to lose all fat -- usually it's some combination of both. And losing LBM will hurt your fat loss efforts going forward as muscle burns more calories at rest than fat does.

Here's a good article that describes it more: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-energy-balance-equation.html

Two ways to help minimize lean body mass (i.e. muscle) loss while in a caloric deficit is (1) heavy lifting (3x5, stronglifts, etc.) and (2) eating adequate protein (at least 0.7 g protein per lb body weight).

If you can, try to focus on other numbers to quantify (calorie deficit, miles ran/walked/hiked, weight increases in lifting, etc.) rather than the scale as losing weight may actually not get you where you want to go as much.

Thank you. Though I think 20lbs in 3 months is realistic considering the fact that I'm quite active.

One thing to consider is that the more rapid the weight loss, as a general rule, the higher proportion of muscle is likely lost since it takes fewer calories to burn through a lb of muscle (something like 600) versus a lb a fat (3500). So, if you have a 3500 calorie deficit and you lost only fat, you'd only see a 1 lb loss on the scale. Whereas if it were all muscle, you'd see something like 5.8 lbs loss -- same deficit, but you just lost a lot more muscle than fat. But keep in mind, no one loses all muscle and it's difficult to lose all fat -- usually it's some combination of both. And losing LBM will hurt your fat loss efforts going forward as muscle burns more calories at rest than fat does.

Here's a good article that describes it more: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-energy-balance-equation.html

Two ways to help minimize lean body mass (i.e. muscle) loss while in a caloric deficit is (1) heavy lifting (3x5, stronglifts, etc.) and (2) eating adequate protein (at least 0.7 g protein per lb body weight).

If you can, try to focus on other numbers to quantify (calorie deficit, miles ran/walked/hiked, weight increases in lifting, etc.) rather than the scale as losing weight may actually not get you where you want to go as much.

This is a big myth. LOL.

Body doesn't just start burning muscle. Its often the last resort. Many things have to happen before body starts burning muscle for fuel. I lost 3 lbs a week as my muscles got bigger and my metabolism went up by 18% during the loss. I am not talking about some formula from a blog or internet. I worked with a university monitoring different body stats, metabolism, fat testing in a ultrasound scanner. I usually take these statements with grain of salt unless you are a medical doctor who is doing it on yourself or to your patients. Its impossible to say something like that with out knowing the patient history.